Awards Recognize Lakeland Police Officers' Promotions, Work

Friday

Jul 27, 2012 at 10:29 PM

Cameras flashed across the Commission Chambers at Lakeland City Hall on Friday as family and friends of five Lakeland Police Department members celebrated their promotions. The promotion ceremony included naming Capt. Mike Link to assistant chief to oversee the investigative services bureau.

By ELVIA MALAGONTHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | Cameras flashed across the Commission Chambers at Lakeland City Hall on Friday as family and friends of five Lakeland Police Department members celebrated their promotions.

During the ceremony, the department also presented the Chief's Awards to LPD employees, community members and area law enforcement officers who helped the department when Lakeland Officer Arnulfo Crispin was fatally shot while on duty in December.

The promotion ceremony included the pinning of shields on the five Lakeland police employees who were promoted.

Capt. Rick Taylor knelt as his 9-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, pinned the shield to his uniform. Taylor has worked for the department since 1996.

Lt. Michael Spade was promoted to lieutenant and Raymond Lloyd and Felicia Wilson were promoted to sergeants during the ceremony.

Link, who in June completed the 10-week FBI National Academy, said one of his goals is to focus on violent crime and property crimes in the city.

"I'm looking forward to working with the other bureaus to solve the problems we face in the community," he said.

Link has worked for the department for 27 years. He previously was a captain in charge of the uniform patrol division. Before that, he oversaw criminal and special investigations.

The Chief's Awards honored those who helped the night Officer Crispin was shot and with the aftermath, including efforts to memorialize him.

"It was a matter of honor and pride," said Police Chief Lisa Womack, "and it was personal."

Among those who were given the Chief's Award was Lakeland Officer Carlos Cortes, who, among other things, helped the Crispin family during each ceremony and event honoring Crispin.

Cortes said he became friends with Crispin while training him as a patrol officer.

He responded to the scene the night Crispin was shot while searching a group of teens at a city park on Crystal Grove Lane. Cortes then responded to Lakeland Regional Medical Center to offer support to the Crispin family.

"We became one family, they became my family," Cortes said.

Earlier this month, the police department administered oaths of office to 11 new officers. The officers completed the Mini Academy and are undergoing training to begin patrolling in the community.